Politics & Government

Vote on Nassau Precinct Merger Postponed

County to meet with police officials this week to review Mangano's policing plan.

Monday's legislative vote to merge Nassau police precincts under County Executive Ed Mangano's new has been postponed one week, according to both county and police union officials.

But the reason for the sudden delay is clouded by the hospitalization of one of the key Republican voters on the measure.

Both the county and Nassau Police Benevolent Association said the vote was postponed in an attempt to find "common ground" in regards to the potential precinct merger.

Find out what's happening in Wantagh-Seafordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Law enforcement unions and I negotiated throughout the weekend.  Discussions were progressive," Mangano told Patch. "Accordingly, the vote will be recessed for one week."

However, it is unlikely Mangano had the votes to pass the measure Monday. Nassau Legis. Howard Kopel, R-Lawrence, said that Legis. Joseph Belesi, a Farmingdale Republican and a former police officer, is hospitalized. The 14th district Belesi represents includes a portion of Seaford north of Jerusalem Avenue. 

Find out what's happening in Wantagh-Seafordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The restructuring plan would turn the First and Eighth Precincts, which both cover portions of the Wantagh-Seaford area, into community policing centers. The in Seaford, which covers a majority of the local area, would remain open under the proposal. 

PBA President Jim Carver said that his organization sat down with the county last week and believes they will get together again today, along with the Superior Officers Association (SOA) and the Nassau Detectives' Association (DAI).

"Maybe there's resolution that we can find," Carver told Patch. "... This was just [a way] to slow everything down and give us a little time to see if we can find some common ground here. And if we can't? We can't."

Carver had that the county was not giving enough thought to the merger and was rushing into something that he believed could negatively change policing for the next 50 years.

Nassau Democrats have said they will block the vote on the current plan, however Republicans hold a 10-9 majority in the legislature.

"Having received the first version of the closure plan during a hearing then a second version of the plan during the recessed hearing, it was obvious that the plan was not very well thought out and subject to daily change, moreover the closure of four precincts, reducing special patrol and the compromising of public safety for a fiscal upside," said County Legislator Dave Denenberg, D-Merrick, whose 19th district encompasses the southern area of Wantagh. 

"The independent budget review analysis showed the plan would not save the money the administration said it would so I remain opposed to it," Denenberg continued.  "If the postponement results in a plan with real savings without compromising public safety, I would support it. If the plan does not save money and still compromises public safety I am not for it."

Nassau County Legislative Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt, R-Massapequa, confirmed that "The County Executive has asked us to postpone the vote" because of the negotiations going on, but would not comment further. Schmitt's 15th district includes part of Seaford. 

Legis. Dennis Dunne, R-Levittown, who covers large areas of both Wantagh and Seaford, could not immediately be reached for comment. 

The vote will now tentatively take place on Monday, March 5.

Andrew Coen and Edward Robinson contributed to this report.


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